Jimmy Ting Koon-ho is preparing Little Paradise for a return to the racecourse this Sunday in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400 meters) at Sha Tin, aiming to position the four-year-old colt as a strong contender for the upcoming Group One Hong Kong Mile in December.
Little Paradise, who claimed the Classic Mile title last season and won the Group Three Premier Cup over the same distance, is starting his new campaign after an off-season noted for the horse’s increased calmness and maturity. Trainer Ting shared that Little Paradise has responded well to rest, with consistent body weight and encouraging trial performances suggesting the horse is ready for competitive action.
Last season had its challenges for the colt, a son of Toronado. While he overcame difficulties to secure victory in the Classic Mile in February, he faced trouble during the Classic Cup (1,800 meters), finishing eighth to Stormy Grove. Attempts to extend beyond a mile proved less successful; the gelding was unable to sustain the 2,000-meter distance in the Hong Kong Derby and finished 10th in the Group One Champions Mile, hindered by further misfortune.
Little Paradise concluded his previous season on a positive note with a commanding win over Group One competitor Galaxy Patch in the Premier Cup. Trainer Ting expects the Celebration Cup to serve as a stepping stone, with an eye on progressively longer races, including the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600 meters) on October 19 and the Group Two BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile on November 22, both critical lead-ups to the Hong Kong Mile.
Zac Purton, who rode Little Paradise in a recent trial where the colt finished a close second on the Sha Tin dirt track, will be aboard again for Sunday’s race. Purton’s involvement in the early season campaign will likely continue depending on the horse’s performance. Ting indicated confidence in Purton’s assessment saying the gelding showed improvement in the trial and expressed hopes for continued progress this season.
The Celebration Cup field includes notable rivals such as Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis, multiple Group One placer Helios Express, Galaxy Patch, Patch Of Theta, Copartner Prance, Stormy Grove, Lucky With You, and Soleil Fighter. This competitive lineup offers an early test for Little Paradise as he seeks to build momentum toward his primary goal, the Hong Kong Mile.